Why is it that, as a third-generation Lebanese American whose grandparents were Maronite Christian refugees, I find it so hard to side with the Palestinian cause and prefer to remain neutral in the Israel-Palestine conflict?

[u/bankstown_resident]

I grew up hearing stories of Palestinian militias ransacking and destroying Maronite Christian villages in Lebanon, including the ancestral villages of my own family and many of my relatives directly blame Palestinian armed groups for triggering the Lebanese Civil War.

To be clear, I am sharply critical of the current Israeli government, the actions of many in the IDF, and the devastation happening in Gaza. I also condemn Israeli military operations and destruction in Southern Lebanon. At the same time, I acknowledge how Hezbollah's dominance, Iranian influence, and military actions have destabilized Lebanon and dragged the south into repeated, devastating conflicts with Israel.

When I consider the historical role of the PLO in the Lebanese Civil War (alongside events like Black September in Jordan) together with Hezbollah's ongoing actions and Israel's strikes, I find it very difficult to align myself with any side.

While I recognize the immense harm caused by Israeli military actions, I remain deeply conflicted because of the historical trauma passed down by my family, whose villages were ruined by Palestinian militias, and the reality of how non-state armed groups continue to jeopardize Lebanon's future. Is it normal to feel this level of detachment and conflict based on family history?

[u/CapableC1]

You have beliefs based on your own moral and historical knowledge and family experience. I'd say you're a better and smarter person than anyone on the political scene, whose "values" boil down to choosing a side then defending everything their designated allies do and criticizing their assigned enemies even if they are literally doing the same thing and not even to a comparable extent

[u/cspot1978]

Your perspective is quite natural and it's an absolute disgrace that more Lebanese people don't share it. Palestinians and their sycophants have destroyed your people's country with their failed loser adventures. That's just the objective reality of it.

[u/bankstown_resident → u/cspot1978]

In the Lebanese diaspora in the West? You'd be suprised how many share my views on this conflict. Especially when many descendants of Maronite refugees still remember stories being told by their grandparents about the Palestinians. Not to mention many 1-3 generation Lebanese American/Australian/Canadians have strong anti-Islam sentiments due to this, often more hardline than your average Trump supporter.

[u/bankstown_resident → u/[deleted]]

You'll find that many Lebanese Christian diaspora in America, and Australia etc hates the previous Iranian regime and blames them for the rise of Hezbollah, sometimes hating them more than Israel

[u/BourneAwayByWaves → u/[deleted]]

OP meant the Shah.

[u/cspot1978 → u/bankstown_resident]

No, I can imagine it, especially for Maronite/Orthodox/other Christian/secular Lebanese people. My Lebanese acquaintances are more from the Muslim community, so I've been more exposed to that POV. But I strongly disagree with their take, and think Team Moqawama is an unmitigated wasteful disaster and self-fulfilling prophecy (they self-justify as defending the country from Israel but they or Palestinians are the only reason Israel has a conflict with Lebanon in the first place).

To add a little bit of requisite balance to my previous comment in fairness to Palestinians, the Arabic world, including Lebanon, also failed the Palestinian refugees by stubbornly refusing to provide them an integrated path forward within the other Arab countries.

[u/atheologist]

I agree with the comment that this doesn't sound like detachment. It sounds like you have a more nuanced view because you have a better understanding of the historical and geopolitical context than many people do.

[u/TzarichIyun]

So you’re neutral. Do you think one side or the other sincerely wants peace?

[u/No-Teach9888]

It doesn’t sound like detachment. It sounds like you’re trying to be rational

[u/YesterdayGold7075]

It’s the opposite of detachment. It’s processing the conflict as complex, geopolitical and involving humans on both sides. The preferred narrative is that it is a binary conflict between Total Good and Total Evil. People who have lived in the area or have family there usually do process it as complex and not blindingly simple. (And I agree Netanyahu and Likud are pure evil, just not that every Israeli citizen is.)

[u/DrMikeH49]

Your family’s history gives you far more knowledge of this issue than most of the WesternWhiteSaviors™️ who populated the tentifada encampments.